Leoníd Fyódoritch. And the child that Márya Vasílevna distinctly saw? Why, I saw it too.... That could not have been done by this girl.
Anna Pávlovna. You think yourself wise, but you are—a fool.
Leoníd Fyódoritch. Well, I'm going.... Alexéy Vladímiritch, will you come?
[Exit into his study.
Professor (shrugging his shoulders, follows). Oh, how far, how far, we still lag behind Western Europe!
[Enter JACOB.
Anna Pávlovna (following LEONÍD FYÓDORITCH with her eyes). He has been tricked like a fool, and he sees nothing! (To JACOB.) What do you want?
Jacob. How many persons am I to lay the table for?
Anna Pávlovna. For how many?... Theodore Ivánitch! Let him give up the silver plate to you. Be off, at once! It is all his fault! This man will bring me to my grave. Last night he nearly starved the dog that had done him no harm! And, as if that were not enough, he lets the infected peasants into the kitchen, and now they are here again! It is all his fault! Be off at once! Discharge him, discharge him! (To SIMON.) And you, horrid peasant, if you dare to have rows in my house again, I'll teach you!
Second Peasant. All right, if he is a horrid peasant there's no good keeping him; you'd better discharge him too, and there's an end of it.